Swansea City take on West Bromwich Albion this afternoon (KO 3pm, Swansea.Com) but will the new year bring any new hope ? Swans fans want a more thoughtful and informed decision making process at the top that’s for sure, especially after the sacking of Michael Duff. Or will Chairmen Andrew Coleman let the season descend any further southwards than it has already ?
Happy New Year from The Indy : The Swans will be buoyed by a far better performance on Friday night, drawing with Coventry City at the CBC arena with a late Liam Cullen free kick to earn a point. However, there are still concerns regards the overall team performance and ability to push on up the Championship table. It now looks like Nathan Wood is fully fit, he should be included in this afternoon’s squad. Liam Walsh and Joe Allen have been closely monitored after Friday nights draw, and Josh Key is looking like he is out for a while. Kristian Pedersen is expected to be included in the squad as well.
Reports are contradictory with regards to Charlie Patino. He is currently at the Swans on loan from Arsenal. Juve have commented on him and their desire to secure his services at some point, but elsewhere the reports are being rejected out of hand. We will no doubt find out soon enough. Interim Swansea head coach, Alan Sheehan commented on Saturday, "All I can say is that nobody at the club is closer to Charlie Patino than me. Nobody's done more work with Charlie Patino one-to-one in analysis of games when I was assistant manager. There's areas of his game where, although it might seem harsh at the moment in not playing him, he will improve for it. We did video clips with him probably an hour before the game today and showed him the reasons why he's not playing”
Recent form sees the Swans above Leeds United in fourteenth, the Baggies are in fifth with ten points from a possible eighteen. The Swans have eight. It’s very average mid to lower half form from Swansea City, and that thumping at Southampton will take a while to vanquish from the mind. Talking of Leeds, they were beaten by the Baggies on Friday night, Grady Diangana scored the decisive goal. Daryl Dike and Martin Kelly are out, and Jed Wallace could miss out with a groin injury after the Leeds game. On his injury Wallace has said, "This time of year, there's a lot of games. I think it was just a bit of fatigue in my groin. I under-hit a corner at the near post and then it felt a bit tight. You don't really care when you win. We're buzzing. We know there's a long way to go but that's two big games and two wins”
Earlier on in the season under Michael Duff the Swans lost 3-2 at the Hawthorns. This was Swansea City’s first away game of the season. Charlie Patino made his debut on a hot August weekend. The Swans were 3-0 down before Nathan Wood and Harry Darling scored two fairly late goals. This prompted a Swansea revival but to no avail. However, the Swans should have equalised when Ben Cabango beat his marker from a set piece but failed to score.
It was only in May, a few months earlier at the end of last season the Swans had beaten the Baggies by the same scoreline. Joel Piroe netting a 93rd minute winner. The other goal scorers that day were Olivier Ntcham and Luke Cundle. None of the three remain at the club.
As of this weekend the remaining West Brom away tickets were put on general sale, they were allocated 1,971. Tickets are available for the home ends by purchasing them at the ticket office pre match.
Team news later.